Do I Believe in the Paranormal?

June 6, 2026
Birch Bay, Washington

Last night, I was invited to participate in a discussion with Karen and Alisa of Voices From the Grave. Along with their team of psychics and intuitives, they have spent years investigating paranormal activity at the Sowden/Hodel Franklin House. Over the course of eleven episodes, they have documented what they believe to be direct communications with deceased individuals connected to the history of the property and to several unsolved crimes, including purported dialogues attributed to Dr. George Hodel and others. Through the use of psychic mediums and a variety of investigative recording techniques and equipment, they have presented extensive audio, video, and other materials that they believe support their findings.

It should also be noted that Karen and Alisa have devoted many years to their own independent investigations of the Black Dahlia case and related Los Angeles Lone Woman Murders. Their work has extended well beyond paranormal inquiry and has included archival research, witness development, neighborhood canvassing, street-level investigation, and the collection of extensive historical documentation.

Karen brings particularly strong investigative credentials to that work. A retired major case detective, forensic science specialist, author, educator, and television consultant, she has spent decades conducting death investigations, teaching forensic science, and participating in crime-related documentary and television productions. Alisa is an accomplished producer, true-crime researcher, and author whose work has focused on unsolved Los Angeles murders and related historical investigations. Her professional production experience is evident throughout the Voices From the Grave series, helping to create the high-quality presentation and thoughtful storytelling that have become hallmarks of the project.

Together, Karen, Alisa, and their team have assembled a substantial body of research relating to the Black Dahlia case, the Sowden/Hodel Franklin House, and related unsolved crimes.

Alisa Statman
Producer, Author, and True-Crime Researcher
Karen Smith
Retired Major Case Detective, Forensic Science Specialist, Author, and Educator

During the discussion, I was asked a direct question:

“Steve, do you believe in the paranormal?”

Over the years I have been asked many questions about the Black Dahlia case, my father Dr. George Hodel, and the unusual events that have surrounded both investigations. My answer regarding the paranormal has remained essentially the same: I keep an open mind.

As a former LAPD homicide detective, I am fact-driven. Evidence, documentation, witness statements, and corroboration have always formed the foundation of my work. At the same time, after nearly 85 years of life, I have experienced a number of events that leave me open to the possibility that there may be more occurring around us than we fully understand.

In the eight-minute excerpted video below, I discuss my views on the paranormal, psychics, intuition, and the importance of maintaining objectivity while remaining open to possibilities. The conversation also naturally evolves into a discussion of George Hodel, surrealism, the Black Dahlia murder, and themes explored in my latest book, As Within, So Without: Man Ray, Surrealism and the Secrets Behind the Black Dahlia Murder (Thoughtprint Press 2026).

My thanks and appreciation to Karen and Alisa for their many years of research, their hospitality, support, and continuing efforts to explore the history and mysteries associated with the Sowden/Hodel Franklin House through their project, Voices From the Grave.

For those interested in their work, I encourage you to visit their YouTube channel:

Voices From the Grave:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZ4Jy0vUjJb7i88v4-dTOQ

Video: Steve Hodel on the Paranormal (8 Minutes)

I welcome your thoughts and comments.

— Steve Hodel